Chapter 417: He Asked to Save a Life

After He Pingsheng stepped onto the stage, Elder Zhenyu let out a deep sigh.

In truth, he didn't fully believe He Pingsheng.

Moreover, he had every opportunity to refuse the other's request.

After all, he was the team leader.

If he had opposed the rematch, Qi State's rematch simply couldn't proceed.

But he didn't do that.

Why?

It was simple: if He Pingsheng had truly colluded with the other side, what good would it do to prevent him from rematching with Xiao Xuan?

Because behind Xiao Xuan, Qi State still had nine others!

As long as He Pingsheng lost one match afterward, Qi State would win.

So it was unnecessary!

Rather than offend He Pingsheng, it was better to be open and aboveboard.

"Last night, He Pingsheng went to Qi State's guest villa—there must have been some shady deal!" Liang Huaqiu's face was flushed with anger.

Zhenyu shook his head and said, "Not necessarily."

"Let's wait and see!"

……

On the arena!

Within the miniature world.

Still that valley.

He Pingsheng was astonished to find that all damage done to the valley during yesterday's battle had been fully restored today.

This…

Could it really be like this?

After briefly observing the world, He Pingsheng's gaze returned to Xiao Xuan.

Xiao Xuan had no more of yesterday's idle talk, nor yesterday's arrogant demeanor.

Because he knew well—he was no match for He Pingsheng. He stood here today only because Lord Longyuan had told him: today, He Pingsheng would let him win.

He disliked such things.

He even despised them.

But he had no choice.

For Qi State's victory, he could only accept this humiliation.

"Oh…," He Pingsheng said, "You've got fewer words today?"

"Hmph!" Xiao Xuan was direct: "Fight if you're going to—no more nonsense!"

"Hehehe…"

He Pingsheng said, "You shouldn't have come today…"

"You'll regret it…"

With that, he waved his hand forward.

Countless ice-elemental magic power surged from He Pingsheng's body, accompanied by boundless ice-elemental Dao principles.

Around him, flakes of snow drifted down like a storm.

The entire world became a realm of ice and snow.

Technique: Heavenly Snow Lock Realm.

Now unleashed, its power was greater than before.

Last time, he used this technique to break through the tenth Dragon Platform defense array of Liang State's capital.

Later, he cultivated for three months in the royal spirit pool, refining his Dao art—his understanding doubled.

Thus, the power of this Heavenly Snow Lock Realm had naturally risen another level.

As soon as the technique was unleashed, heaven and earth darkened.

"Damn… what technique is this?" Xiao Xuan, trapped in the icy wasteland, felt its power more acutely.

He felt he teetered on the edge of death.

But Xiao Xuan was, after all, a child of heaven, an unparalleled genius.

Boom…

The next instant, a shield formed around his body.

The moment the shield appeared, two snowflakes, each three feet wide, flew from the pitch-black gale and struck him dead center.

The shield shattered instantly.

Then, four snowflakes came from four directions.

Xiao Xuan could still handle them easily.

But as time passed, the number of snowflakes kept increasing.

Four!

Eight!

Sixteen!

He Pingsheng's magic power continuously transformed into ice-elemental magic power, surging forth in an endless torrent.

Slowly, Xiao Xuan began to falter.

He couldn't keep up.

Finally, after expending nearly all his spiritual power to shatter sixty-four snowflakes, one hundred twenty-eight reformed anew.

One hundred twenty-eight snowflakes—a killing blow.

Even if it didn't kill him, it didn't matter—two hundred fifty-six more were already forming.

He Pingsheng's current magic power could barely sustain up to two hundred fifty-six!

If his magic power were sufficient, the technique's limit was eighteen thousand snowflakes.

Of course, that required immense strength.

At least one would need Soul Transformation realm—even then, Soul Transformation might not achieve eighteen thousand snowflakes.

One hundred twenty-eight snowflakes, sharp as blades, hurtled toward Xiao Xuan.

Xiao Xuan opened his mouth to surrender.

But the blizzard was too fierce—his voice couldn't reach out.

He could only watch helplessly as countless snowflakes tore toward him.

Just as Xiao Xuan believed death was certain, a pale white light suddenly ignited on his body.

Boom—it formed a shield.

The ten thousand snowflakes of the Heavenly Snow Lock Realm vanished.

The sky cleared, and He Pingsheng's figure became visible again.

And another person.

An old man with white hair and white beard stood beside Xiao Xuan.

He was the one who had just intervened to save Xiao Xuan.

"Elder Tiwen?"

Seeing the man, the announcer was utterly stunned.

Boom—he fell to his knees.

Countless others bowed to the old man.

"Greetings, Elder Tiwen!"

He Pingsheng's pupils contracted; he stepped back ten paces and gripped a talisman in his hand.

The old man chuckled: "Child… we meet again."

"Technically, I shouldn't have intervened today."

"But if I hadn't, a great talent of this world would have perished in your hands—he would have died for sure!"

"So after careful consideration, I chose to save him."

"You owe me a favor from back then… you won't deny it, will you?"

The white-haired old man fixed He Pingsheng with a stare.

He Pingsheng nodded: "Yes… thank you, Elder, for your Dao-bestowing grace."

"Hmm," the old man nodded. "Good. I'll use this favor to cancel out my intervention today—how's that?"

He Pingsheng took a deep breath and bowed: "Yes, I humbly accept."

"Good, good, good… hehehe… no wonder you're the strongest Golden Core in all of cultivation history… hehehehe…"

The old man waved his hand and vanished.

Everyone was stunned.

What did that mean?

What had Elder Tiwen just said?

"He said…" Tian Jia Shen spoke up, "He Pingsheng is the strongest Golden Core in all of cultivation history?"

He had once been somewhat resentful of He Pingsheng, but after witnessing his technique just now, he was fully convinced.

But could he really be the strongest in the cultivation world?

"Wrong!" Liang Huaqiu corrected: "He asked the Ancestor: he is the strongest Golden Core in the history of the cultivation world!"

Hisssss…

Reconsidering his words to the Ancestor, everyone was stunned.

Only Long Jiao's face turned pitch black.

I had assumed He Pingsheng was being coerced and would hold back today.

Yet this brat didn't hold back at all—he struck with lethal intent?

He means to kill my Qi Kingdom's people?

This…

What does it mean?

Is he showing this to me on purpose?

"Liang Kingdom, He Pingsheng wins…" the host announced: "Next, He Pingsheng, will you continue challenging, or wait until tomorrow?"

He Pingsheng said: "Continue!"

After speaking, he added: "Today… I'll fight until Qi Kingdom is utterly defeated!"